ANP Quarterly #8

A few months ago, a buddy of mine was complaining how he had just recently had to pay for a subscription to the quarterly art publication, ANP Quarterly, because, like most popular free magazines, it was nearly impossible to find. "Maybe you guys could carry it," he said. I did a little research and found that no spots in Oakland currently distributed the magazine so I shot them an email inquiring what I needed to do to get the hook-up. I got no immediate response so I went into "resend" mode and kept shooting the same email request a few more times. Then, one day, I got a simple reply: "I'll send you a box." it said.

For months I didn't get anything and I just figured I'd gotten the brush-off. This happens a lot, and since the publication cost me nothing I really felt I shouldn't complain. I had just about forgotten about the whole affair when Fed Ex showed-up and dropped a fat package of ANP on me. So, without further ado, I present to you ANP Quarterly issue #8, available while supplies last at Rowan Morrison, the only distributor of ANP Quarterly in Oakland (although I notice we aren't listed in the dealer directory). One per customer.

Unlike other free magazines like Vice or Frank 151, ANP is completely advertising free. In fact, I am totally puzzled as to how they can print and ship (via Fed Ex, no less) this full color, oversized magazine with no basis for direct income. The publishers, RVCA (a clothing company or something - you probably know a lot more about it than I do) must be doing pretty well to fund this. I hear they opened a store on Haight & Ashbury in SF with a mural by Twist McGee that got buffed and they petitioned the city to fund a repaint.

Anyways, I gotta admit I was immediately impressed by the quality of the production of the magazine as well as the depth of the interviews and subjects covered. Aaron Rose (who concieved on of my favorite all time art books, Dysfunctional), "He-Man" Ed Templeton, and Bredan Fowler do it right. It's got a huge interview with classic 1970s performance artist (and currently working in freaky-huge sculpture) Chris "Breathe Water" Burden. Tons of full-page artwork from Rita Akerman (not my cup of tea but not a bad article), profiles of Scoops Ice Cream in LA, Comptior De L'Image Bookstore in Paris, and Workshop Houston in Texas, and then another huge interview, this time from Ian Svenonius of Nation of Ulysses fame.

There's more... an interview with Photography publisher Sophie Morner (featuring lots of great photographs featured in her magazine, Capricious), and article about the 1980s punk magazine No Mag, plus a photo-montage from Josh "Amaze" Lazcano. And some other bits I don't remember right now.

All in all, I am blown away by the quality of this magazine. I really expected a lot less thought and certainly lower quality paper and printing and now I totally understand why it is so hard to find. Thanks to all the RVCA and ANP guys who have figured out how to make this thing work.

Here are some links:
Official ANP website - ANP blog - myspace page

Oh yeah, ANP stands for Artist Network Program. Get issue #8 right now at that amazing fine arts bookstore in the East Bay, Rowan Morrison.